Citation

Schulte PA, Pana-Cryan R, Schnorr T, Schill AL, Guerin R, Felknor S, Wagner GR. Am. J. Public Health 2017; 107(7): 1051-1057.

Affiliation

At the time of the study, the authors were with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Paul A. Schulte, Teresa Schnorr, and Rebecca Guerin in Cincinnati, OH; Rene Pana-Cryan and Anita L. Schill in Washington, DC; Sarah Felknor in Atlanta, GA; and Gregory R. Wagner in Boston, MA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2017.303765

PMID

28520495

Abstract

The true burden (morbidity, mortality, disability, cost, pain, distress) of occupational and work-related diseases and injuries is unknown, and what is reported as burden is significantly underestimated. This underestimation affects the way decision-makers view investments in research and worker protection, which in turn has a substantial impact on national welfare and public health. To better describe the societal and individual burdens of occupational and work-related diseases and injuries, we propose an approach to gauge what is known about burden and where new assessments may be made. This approach consists of 4 elements to consider in burden assessments: (1) utilizing multiple domains, including the individual worker, the worker's family, the community in which the workplace is located, the employer, and society as a whole; (2) taking a broader view of the work-relatedness of disease and injury; (3) assessing the impact of the entire working-life continuum; and (4) applying the comprehensive concept of "well-being" as an indicator in addressing contemporary changes in the nature of work, the workplace, and the workforce. Further research on burden and enhanced surveillance is needed to develop these elements. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print May 18, 2017: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2017.303765).

Language: en